Cornea Implants See the Present, Look like the Future

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Even though science has not yet reached a point where ophthalmologists can offer full ocular replacement like Geordi La Forge’s visor in Star Trek: The Next Generation could, the world of visual repair does offer some delightfully fictional-looking options for the visually impaired. Especially if you need to have a cornea replaced.

A popular post on Reddit’s “r/pics” subreddit from a user named Lukaro showcased an artificial cornea his wife received, and it is tough for one to not draw parallels to Geordi when seeing it.

The procedure that Lukaro’s wife underwent, receiving a Boston KPro artificial cornea, is quite new in the world of ocular surgery and repair. Since the early 2000s, only a handful of people in the world have undergone the same procedure. But it has gained traction in the past few years with a stellar success rate.

To replace a faulty cornea, an artificial cornea is either adhered or sutured to the eye with a hole set in the middle of two artificial tissue layers. This hole, which rests over the pupil, offers a window through the damaged cornea layer so that light can enter the eye correctly, increasing visual capability. The artificial cornea doesn’t allow for wide-spectrum light sensing a la Star Trek, but the design of the lens can give the eye a slightly bionic look.

Another Reddit user named bjbark also shared a photo of his uncle’s eye after a similar surgery:

The impact this procedure has on those affected by cornea issues is undeniable — it is only an added bonus that it allows patients to show off their “bionic” eyes to their friends and family. Until something like the Eyeborg Project takes off, this is as close to Geordi as we get.